Course Reflections

Before V515, my experience with sustainability at Kelley was twofold: an excellent class on Environmental Sustainability & Business Strategy taught by Jeff McMullen, and a one-day session on the marketing benefits of sustainability. While McMullen's was a very useful class focused on exploring both sides of the sustainability debate from the eyes of a corporate manager, the marketing class was gimmicky and showed how for most businesspeople 'sustainability' is little more than a buzzword to be tacked on to a marketing campaign. Through the course of my studies in Supply Chain, I started to realize the incredible potentials out there for large industrial corporations to streamline their efforts, foster more efficient operations, and save some money in the process.

I took V515 this semester because I wanted to learn about the basic concepts of sustainability from the  point of view of government and 3rd party actors. Immediately I noticed a difference in the way this was approached compared to Kelley. The Roseland book contained lots of great ideas for sustainable communities, but there was very little discussion of the actual costs of these great initiatives. Over and over, the same cities were highlighted (Portland, Toronto...) and I could only think to myself- sure, you can do this in a place where there is pre-packaged political will for it. But most real-world sustainability managers have to build an economic case for their initiatives, be it in the policy or the business world, and I wish this class had pursued that line of thinking a bit more (perhaps this is something covered in other SPEA courses).

It was the sessions focused on Indiana that were most interesting to me, because it is a place where sustainability is not yet taken for granted. Discussing the challenges and compromises with the Energy Master Plan, seeing Bill's library in rural Indiana, and working on the walkability project for the city were great ways to see about sustainability in action in our own backyard. And it isn't easy! Frankly, there are only so many government grants out there, and I feel very strongly about needing to better be able to translate the language of sustainability into something that is of clear value to all, no matter their philosophical or political leanings.

All in all, it was a great class, and after a year at Kelley it really helped to reinvigorate me as to the possibilities out there. My next step is most likely working for a large industrial firm in supply chain, and I am optimistic about bringing a passion for sustainability to that role in some way. Perhaps more importantly, I want to incorporate many of the class learnings into my own life, and I now feel more confident to be able to make the changes I need to be a role model and more involved in my community.

Thank you!

Errol Packard